3 Hewlett establishments targeted early morning Monday; Nassau County police say no connection so far
All three incidents happened within half a mile of each other within four and a half hours on Monday morning.
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Nassau County police are investigating three incidents that unfolded in Hewlett, all within four and a half hours of each other on Monday morning.
The Nassau County Fire Marshal and the Nassau County Police Arson Bomb Squad are investigating what officials have deemed a suspicious fire at Avi's Auto Center at 1205 W Broadway just before 3 a.m.
Firefighters who rushed to the scene found a tow truck and part of the building on fire.
The Hewlett Fire Department, Woodmere Fire Department and neighboring departments were able to get the fire under control.
No one was injured, according to first responders.
Avi's Auto Center owner, Mikhail Davydov, said he just recently took over the business and couldn't imagine who would do this to him.
"It is suspicious," he said. "We don't do anything bad to anybody. We don't know anybody yet here. We're the new people here."
The investigation into how and why the fire started is still ongoing.
Then at 5:30 a.m., just two blocks away, glass was broken at ASAP Restoration at 1265 W Broadway. That building is now boarded up.
At 7:30 a.m., less than half a mile away from the locations of the first two incidents, Nassau County police said someone hung up an anti-Israel banner that read "50k dead" on a fence in front of the Israel Chesed Center at 1315 Peninsula Blvd.
Israel Chesed Center Founder Moshe Bodner called it a shock.
"It feels pretty terrible, but then when I drove around the corner and I saw the broken windows and the fire in the mechanic, it's a whole different level," he said.
Police said nothing was broken and there was no actual vandalism beyond the sign, which has been removed, so investigators are no longer involved.
Nassau County police said a preliminary investigation doesn't show a connection between any of the three incidents, including the suspicious fire.
Still, the Five Towns community is on edge and the targeted businesses have warned the community to remain vigilant.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman tried to calm the community in a statement that said: "There has been a tremendous amount of conjecture about three events this past weekend in Hewlett. First, the three events are not related. Second, the fire and broken window incidents do not appear to be hate- or bias-related. Finally, our Police Department does an outstanding job of protecting our community and will continue to devote every resource available to keep us safe."
Investigators are not labeling any as hate crimes at this time.
Nassau County police detectives are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or 911.
